Wichita eagle., 1887-07-20
About the Sanitary Conditions
Of the City.
Health as Good as any City Of Equal
Size. but a Cleaning up Would
Not Hurt.

question produced many ideas on the gen
eral health. Those strongly in favor coult
see the. population dwindling away as re
suit of our unfavorable surroundings, whil'
those inclined to be reticent over the subJec
thought that the city's age was sufficient
guaranty for he alth for few years.
The hot weather of late, in the minds Of
many, is exposing the citizens to great dan
ger. 1t seems to have stimulated discussion
over the hee 18th question although almost for
bidding discussion on many other topics.
In order to give the public respectable
opinion on TIE subject number OF the lead
ing physicians were interviewed on the sub
iect Yesterday and the result is given. Ii
will be seen that most of them think the
health of the city far above that Of the av-
erage city of this size, but do not hesitate to
remark that general cleaning up woUl not
end injuriously.
Dr. E. B. Rentz-'tI consider the city at
present very healthy, there is no epidemlcs
at present and very seldom do we have any.
| find in my practice that the prevailing
troubles are a malerial character, this sum-
mer, cases of summer complaint incident to
children. Still, In general, l can say that
t here is less sickness to the size of the city
than any place with which | am acquaint.
ed.n
Dr. Van. Pearman-
It.capnot be denied but there is just now
quite an amount of sickness in our city.
While am profoundly impressed with the
importance and necessity Of better hyglenlc
regulation in the shape of sewerage system,
cleanliness, etc, yet it is most unfair to main
tain that the absence of these is largely re-
sponsibleifor the sickness now existing for L
am convinced that the health rate of our
city is higher than Of most cities o.
equal size. We should not forget that this is
the season of dietitic abuses-unripel and
stale fruit and vegetables, as well as 'dog-
days" with hot, prostrating weather-.hese
are certainly potent factors in the causation
of disease.
1t is true that our marvellous increase in
pc pulation and unprecedented growth have
omewhat outstripped our public improve
ments, but as our hygienic needs become
manifest we can safely trust that our ''city
fathers" will prove themselves equal to the
ne cessity. discern no cause for special
alarm.
DR.. Stoner, says that he finds
GAS much sickness outside the city
limits as.within. have at present goodly
number of cases of typho-malarial fever;
some dangerous, Others not serious. There is,
too, some summer complaint, such as cholera
infantum, among children. Still must say
that for the size of the city the health is
unusually good and that there are fewer
delths than any city 1 was ever i'm
DIR. McBurnie believes it, too, remarkably
healthy for this time of the year. "There
appears to be only a little remittent or bill
Gus fever, with perhaps few sporadic cases
of cholera MOI bus in youth ard adult,
tine result of indiscretion i'll eating.
/ think, however, it would be
a good idea 10 have weeds upon
vacant lots cut down and the refuse cleared
away from'premises.
"The health eff the city is excellent said
DR.. Mccoy, Sin fact, too good for the medi
C Il profession" he,continued with a smile.
"There is no epidemic of any kind prevail
ing. Occasionally we have a case of cholera
morbus. The health of children, too, is re-
m arkably good, better than for the last two
months.
DR.. Jordan-The health Of The city has not
b cen better for year. The city might be
benefited by a thorough cleaning up. l
thi nix that malarial and other troubles will
result if the city is not kept in better con-
dition Generally. have more sickness in the
fall but don't look for any alarming sick
ness if the streets and alleys are allowed to
remain filthy. The cool nights gives US a
C nance to recuperate and gain what we lose
in the day. This is especially the case with
c hildren. A good nights rest is good medi
cine. There is less for physicians TO do this
mo nth than in any city of equal size. Of
cou rse part of our people are at health re-
sorts which diminishes the list of patients.
The big rains have helped us out to some ex-
tent.
Dr. Minnick-The city is in deplorable
condition. There is a great deal of sickr es
mainly the ty pho-malarial fever The sick
ness is due, in my opinion, mainly to the filthy
condition of streets, alleys and city in gener-
al. The street and alleys should be cleaned
by the city and the city should see to it thai
people keep their premises clean In many
sections it is almost impossible TO get decent
breath The rank weeds on vacant lots and
in yards keep the ground wet and mouldy,
which causes sickness This fall, unless the
city is cleaned, Will witness an
increase in sickness. Think of
$500 people with all this filth ard no way as
yet provided for taking it away 1t is a
wonder there amt more sickness than there
is. At night the stencil arising in the ecu
trail part of the city is simply horrifying
Cholera would have a picnic without a
doubt. If il were not for the industrious
wind that comes to our rescue we would die
off like sheep.
DR.. St. John-Think improvements could
be made, but have thought that the city was
impr owing so rapidly that there was no time
for paying attention TO sanitary conditions
Think the sanitary conditions ought
to be improved The ALLEYS could
be improved. The sanitary policeman
ought TO make the people clean up
1t is his business to make them do it. The
present death rate is no larger thsn any
other city of its size. Some car should be
taken for the near future. DIR. Purriy: 1.-The